Method of making buckle frames



Sept. 8, 1936. J. KAINEN 2,053,481

METHOD OF MAKING BUCKLE FRAMES Filed Feb. 8, 1936 INVENTOR wasp KAI/V'fl/ Patented Sept. 8, 1936 PATENT OFFICE METHOD OF MAKING BUCKLE FRAMES Joseph Kainen, New York, N. Y., assignor to Algren Manufacturing Co. Inc., New York,

Application February 8, 1936, Serial No. 62,882 i 7 Claims.

My invention relates to buckle frames. and more directly, to a method for the making of the same.

The buckle frames for wrist watch straps are commonly made either by stamping the frame out of a sheet metal, or by shaping and forming a wire by numerous steps into the desired configurations. My method belongs to this type of construction, but differs from it in that my method of forming the buckle frame requires less steps and is quicker; and this reduces the amount of machinery necessary and the handling-all tending to reduce the cost of construction of the article and the overhead of the process.

Thus, an object of my invention is to produce a wire buckle frame using a minimum amount of machinery by a process consisting of 'as few steps as possible.

The buckle frames made at present by the wire bending method contain curves on the inside of the buckle between the buckle back and the side parts. These curves mar the beauty of the buckle and it is of advantage to produce a buckle frame in which the inside parts of the sides make a right angle with the back. Thus, it is a further object of my invention to construct a bent wire buckle frame with a minimum number of construction steps in which any unsightly curves formed in the process of construction are eliminated in the finished product. A further object is to construct a buckle frame from bent wire in which the inside parts of the sides form a right angle'with the back of the buckle frame.

Another object is to construct a buckle frame from bent wire in which excessive strains of extreme bending are eliminated and further to construct the frame with all metal parts of substantial thickness.

Another object is to construct a strong, inexpensive buckle frame by a simple process consisting of a minimum number of steps.

I accomplish all these and other objects by passing a wire through the following three construction steps: one, bending the straight wire into a bow-legged U shape; two, flattening or swedging the bent shaped U into the desired configuration; three, clipping and piercing the ends.

Further and more specific objects, features and advantages will more clearly appear from the detailed description given below taken in connection with the accompanying sheet of drawings which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a wire from which the buckle frame is made; Figure 2 is a similar view showing the wire after it has passed through the first step in my process; Figure 3 is a section through the line 33 of Fig. 2; Figure 4 is a plan view showing the blank after it has passed through the second step in my process; Figure 5 is a section along the line 55 of Figure 4; Figure ,6 is a plan view of the wire blank in the die prior to the second step in my process; Figure '7 is a perspective of a completed buckle with my buckle frame attached.

In the drawing, 1 represents. the wire stock, or blank out of which the buckle frame is shaped. This wire stock is formed by the first step into the shape shown in Figure 2 and the curves 2 supplied and the ends 3 shaped as shown.

The blank, or stock I, is now formed by the second step into the shape shown in Figure 3, the curves 2 shown in Figure 2 having been removed and replaced by the right angles, or near right angles, 4, and the heretofore round crosssectional shape of the blank has been flattened out as shown by the part 5 of Figure 5.

The purpose of producing the curved part 2 shown in the first step was a part in the forming of the right angles 4 as is now shown in the following manner. The blank shown in Figure 2 conforms evenly to the shape of the die into which it fits so that when the flattening, or swedging process, the second step, takes place, the round wire becomes flat and the space 6 is uniformly filled and a straight side I is produced. However, the die is so constructed that there is no space between the outer side 8 of the curved parts 2 and their corresponding die walls. Thus, when the swedging takes place at this point, the metal can only fiow inward toward the buckle and so produces the right angles 4.

The third and last step in the process simply clips the corners of the ends 3 and forms a rounded end. At the same time, the ends are pierced and the holes 9 are formed. Thus, the buckle frame is completed by the three steps as shown. The fact that no part is rolled thin and that a minimum of shaping is employed tends to leave in the metal its inherent strength and lessens the possibility of crystallization and fracture in the material.

While I have described my improvements in great detail and with respect to preferred forms thereof, I do not desire to be limited to such details and forms since many changes and modifications may be made and the invention embodied in widely different forms without departing from the spirit and scope thereof in its broader aspects. Hence, I desire to cover all modifications, forms and embodiments coming within the language and scope of any one -or more of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A method of making a buckle frame comprising bending a wire stock into a shape having a. straight back and side parts having curved portions adjacent the straight back curving inwardly toward each other terminating approximately in parallel straight end parts, flattening the bent stock so that the curved side parts form straight inner sides and the straight back hecomes flat.

2. A method of making a buckle frame comprising bending .a wire stock into a shape having a straight back and side parts having curved portions adjacent the straight back curving inwardly toward each other terminating approximately in parallel straight end parts, flattening the bent stock so that the curved side parts form straight inner sides and the straight back becomes flat and piercing and clipping the tips of the straight end parts.

3. A method of making a buckle frame comprising bending a wire stock into a shape having a straight back and side parts, the side parts adjacent the back converging toward each other away from the back and ending in approximately parallel parts, flattening the bent stock so that the curved side parts form straight inner sides and make approximate angles of ninety degrees with the straight back, and the straight back becomes flat, and piercing the tips of the straight end parts.

4. A method of making a buckle frame for a wrist watch strap consisting of: step one, bending a wire stock into a shape having a straight back and curved side parts ending in straight parts and simultaneously swedging the end of the straight parts; step two, flattening the bent stock so that the curved side parts i'orm flat straight inner sides and the straight back becomes flat; and step three, piercing and clipping the tips of the straight end parts swedged.

5. A method oi. making a flat right-angled part out or a wire stock by bending the wire stock into a straight part and a curved part adjacent the straight part, said curved part bending horizontally inward toward the straight part and swedg ing the upper part of the curved part while holding the under part oi. the curved part and the outer side of the curved part, whereby the inner side of the curved part becomes straightened and at approximately right angles to the straight part.

6. A method of making a flat right-angled part out of a wire stock by bending a wire stock into a straight part and a curved part adjacent the straight part, said curved part bending horizontally inward toward the straight part and swedging the under part of the curved part while holding the upper and outer sides of the curved part, whereby the inner side 01' the curved part becomes straightened and at approximately right angles to the straight part.

7. A method of making a buckle frame comprising bending a wire stock into a shape having a straight back, and side parts, said side parts adjacent the back diverging near the back then converging toward each other away from the back and ending in approximately parallel parts, flattening the bent stock so that the curved side parts form straight inner sides and make approximate angles of ninety (90) degrees with the straight back, and the straight back becomes flat, and piercing the tips of the straight end parts.

JOSEPH KAINEN. 

